Associate in Applied Science #5500
Early Childhood Education Program Website
Program Overview
The Early Childhood Education program equips individuals with both academic knowledge and hands-on experience for careers in education. It covers infant to school-age child care in various settings, including early childhood centers and family homes. The curriculum emphasizes child development from prenatal to early school age, focusing on physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth. Students engage in observing and assessing children's behaviors and work directly with them under supervision.
Work and Employment
Opportunities are available in home-based care, day care centers, preschools, private homes, and before or after-school programs. Though not a state certification preparation, courses can transfer to four-year schools for certification to teach birth through third grade. The Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Act (ECACE) ensures the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in Early Childhood Education is fully transferable to all in-state public universities and some private universities with junior-level standing. A grade of “C” or better is required in all coursework to ensure transferability and awarding of the Gateways to Opportunity ECE Credentials.
Requirements
Early Childhood Education
| ECE-100 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| ECE-101 | The Developing Child | 3 |
| ECE-103 | Health, Safety, and Nutrition for Young Children | 3 |
| ECE-105 | Observation & Assessment of Children | 3 |
| ECE-201 | Language Development | 3 |
| ECE-202 | Child, Family, and Community | 3 |
-
| | |
| ECE-113 | Infant and Toddler Curriculum | 3 |
-
| Or | |
| ECE-203 | Curriculum Planning for the Young Child | 3 |
-
| | |
| ECE-205 | Organization and Supervision of Early Childhood Facilities | 3 |
| ECE-210 | Math and Science for the Young Child | 3 |
| ECE-212 | Creative Activities for the Young Child | 3 |
| ECE-270 | Early Childhood Education Internship | 2 |
| STU-103 | Workplace Ethics | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 33 |
General Education
| ENG-101 | Composition I | 3 |
| PSY-170 | General Psychology | 3 |
-
| | |
| MTH-115 | General Education Mathematics | 3 |
-
| Or | |
| MTH-115P | General Education Mathematics Plus Support | 4 |
-
| | |
| SOC-190 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SPH-131 | Fundamentals of Communication | 3 |
BIO-
| Elective | 3 |
| EDU-202 | Children's Literature | 3 |
| EDU-244 | Students With Disabilities in Schools | 3 |
Electives-
| | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 27 |
Electives: Select 3 credits from the following course prefixes/Divisions.
CIS, HUM, Social Sciences, or Science electives.
Program Sequencing - Full Time
Term I
| ECE-100 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| ECE-101 | The Developing Child | 3 |
| ECE-103 | Health, Safety, and Nutrition for Young Children | 3 |
| ENG-101 | Composition I | 3 |
| PSY-170 | General Psychology | 3 |
| STU-103 | Workplace Ethics | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Term II
| ECE-105 | Observation & Assessment of Children | 3 |
| ECE-202 | Child, Family, and Community | 3 |
-
| | |
| ECE-113 | Infant and Toddler Curriculum | 3 |
-
| Or | |
| ECE-203 | Curriculum Planning for the Young Child | 3 |
-
| | |
| MTH-115 | General Education Mathematics | 3 |
-
| Or | |
| MTH-115P | General Education Mathematics Plus Support | 4 |
-
| | |
| SPH-131 | Fundamentals of Communication | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Term III
| ECE-201 | Language Development | 3 |
| ECE-210 | Math and Science for the Young Child | 3 |
| ECE-212 | Creative Activities for the Young Child | 3 |
| EDU-202 | Children's Literature | 3 |
| SOC-190 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Term IV
| ECE-205 | Organization and Supervision of Early Childhood Facilities | 3 |
| ECE-270 | Early Childhood Education Internship | 2 |
| EDU-244 | Students With Disabilities in Schools | 3 |
BIO-
| Elective | 3 |
CIS, HUM, Social Science, or Science-
| Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Program Sequencing - Part Time
Term I
| ECE-100 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| ECE-101 | The Developing Child | 3 |
| ENG-101 | Composition I | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Term II
| ECE-103 | Health, Safety, and Nutrition for Young Children | 3 |
| PSY-170 | General Psychology | 3 |
| STU-103 | Workplace Ethics | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 7 |
Term III
| ECE-105 | Observation & Assessment of Children | 3 |
-
| | |
| MTH-115 | General Education Mathematics | 3 |
-
| Or | |
| MTH-115P | General Education Mathematics Plus Support | 4 |
-
| | |
| SPH-131 | Fundamentals of Communication | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Term IV
| ECE-202 | Child, Family, and Community | 3 |
-
| | |
| ECE-113 | Infant and Toddler Curriculum | 3 |
-
| Or | |
| ECE-203 | Curriculum Planning for the Young Child | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
Term V
| ECE-201 | Language Development | 3 |
| ECE-210 | Math and Science for the Young Child | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
Term VI
| ECE-212 | Creative Activities for the Young Child | 3 |
| EDU-202 | Children's Literature | 3 |
| SOC-190 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Term VII
| ECE-205 | Organization and Supervision of Early Childhood Facilities | 3 |
| EDU-244 | Students With Disabilities in Schools | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
Term VIII
| ECE-270 | Early Childhood Education Internship | 2 |
BIO-
| Elective | 3 |
CIS, HUM, Social Science, or Science-
| Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Total Credit Hours: 60